From the Rink: Greenway has plenty of experience to lean on in NHL debut

NASHVILLE -- Wild forward Matt Cullen couldn't even wager a guess how many NHL debuts he's seen during his two-decade run in the National Hockey League.
Whatever that number is, it'll grow by one when Jordan Greenway hops over the boards for his first shift in the League tonight when the Wild plays the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena.
"I think they slot them next to the old guys to start," said Cullen, who at 41, is the NHL's most seasoned player.

Cullen's NHL debut came in the last millennium, but he still remembers it like it was yesterday. The emotions of finally reaching the highest level of hockey in the world can be overwhelming for some, but for Greenway, having a vet like Cullen next to him -- at least to start -- could be beneficial.
"It's the realization of a lifelong dream, so you can imagine the emotion that goes through," said Cullen, who was
announced as a Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy nominee
Tuesday morning.. "Obviously for a kid that age, it's kind of a blur finishing your college season and jumping right into the NHL. I just think that excitement, it's a once in a lifetime opportunity, a once in a lifetime accomplishment when you finally made it to the NHL. The excitement and emotion, it's through the roof.

"It's exciting, and I think No. 1 most important is just go play, play your own game. There's a lot of details that you pick up as you go along. But the first game is so exciting. I think for all of us it brings back a lot of memories. We're all here to support him, and hopefully he'll be a real big part of what we're doing here going forward. Tonight is just all about playing, having fun and putting your best foot out there."
Wild coach Bruce Boudreau said he has a pretty standard message to any guy making his NHL debut. A player making his debut likely isn't going to retain much anyway, with the nerves and emotion of the day clouding anything too poetic.
Instead, Boudreau has found that keeping it simple typically works best.
"It's a fine line between inundating him with too much stuff right off the bat and just telling him to go out and have fun," Boudreau said. "It's his debut. Play hockey. He's been playing hockey his whole life. The principles are still the same, for the most part. So just play and have fun and don't worry about things."
In addition to Cullen, Greenway will also play on a line with Charlie Coyle and could slot into the power play as well.
"He's been helping with everything. I was texting him last night asking random questions," Greenway said of Coyle. "It's just nice to have another guy who came from Boston University - Photo blog: Wild skates at Bridgestone Arena - Greenway eager to continue whirlwind season, begin NHL career - Watch: Greenway on next step with Wild - Cullen nominated for Masterton Memorial Trophy